Don't Be Stupid! Bikers are often a "breed" all unto their own. I'm a biker who loves to get out on the roads on the weekend - motocyclists getting into accidents

Combat Edge, March, 2003 by Rebacca Colaw

It's one of those things that just makes me feel good. I love to ride horses, so riding a mechanical one was just the next natural step. I've been doing so for nearly 20 years. I know you bikers know what I'm talking about. There's a freedom in feeling the wind on your face -- but as we all know, there's serious injury or death in feeling your nose on the road.

I know there are folks out there that think we're crazy. But while many don't understand why we do what we do -- being a "different breed," doesn't mean we have to be stupid. And in FY02, many of us were. Take for example the story of one biker who is now a statistic.

Last February, at 12:25 p.m., a 21-year-old senior airman decided to depart his base, on a 600cc Honda, in a rather unorthodox -- aka stupid -- fashion. He drove very safely through the concrete barriers while exiting the base and stopped 100 yards later for a traffic light at a six-lane median-divided roadway intersection.

When the light turned green, the airman gunned his accelerator and put the bike into a wheelie--on a wet road. When the front tire came down, he lost control and struck a curb. Bike and rider continued on the grass, through the shrub and tree-covered median. Twenty yards later, he was ejected from his Honda when the handlebars struck a 10-inch tree. The airman's chest also struck that same tree and his body came to rest at the tree's base. The bike traveled for another 40 yards. The airman was pronounced dead within sight of the main gate, 10 minutes after he'd left the base. Some bike ride.

Because of rides like this, ACC has changed its motorcycle rules. Now I know what you're thinking. It always seems like non-bikers like to make rules for those of us who do ride. However, when we do stupid things, others take control of the handlebars. If we can't regulate ourselves ... others will.

Now, I know there are thousands of bike riders in ACC and the Air Force who do ride safely. Many of you are probably wondering what all the fuss is about. Truth is, when the fatality statistics begin to rise, people pay attention. And, there's no doubt that FY02 was a bad year. Across the Air Force there was an alarming increase in motorcycle mishaps with 24 fatalities, five permanent disabilities, and 124 injuries. The fatality rate was almost double the deaths from the year before.

In ACC alone there were six deaths, one permanent partial disability, and 56 injuries resulting in 866 lost workdays! What's so troubling is that many of these riders ended up with their faces in asphalt, or wrapped around immovable objects, due to bad personal decisions or riding their bikes above their own experience. Unfortunately, five of ACO's fatalities proved that point.

* At Dyess AFB, Texas., a 25year-old communications computer system specialist, who was speeding, failed to negotiate a curve and collided with a utility pole. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.

* At Beale AFB, Calif., a 27year-old avionics test station and components specialist, going too fast for road conditions, failed to negotiate a curve and flew off a ravine landing in a pile of boulders. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.

* At Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., a 28-year-old avionics sensors maintenance specialist, who was speeding, lost control of his motorcycle in a blind curve, struck the curb and flipped his motorcycle off the road and into the desert. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.

* At Beale AFB, Calif., a 22year-old aerospace physiology specialist, operating a motorcycle on a learner's permit, who was speeding, failed to negotiate a curve and struck a tree. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.

* At Offutt AFB, Neb., a 21year-old avionics guidance and control system specialist, who was speeding, was killed when a pick-up truck traveling in the oncoming lane, turned in front of him causing the motorcycle to broadside the pickup. DEAD Airman -- Driver of pick-up truck facing criminal charges.

At Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., the kid, mentioned earlier in the story, who decided to wheelie himself to his grave was an aircraft electrical and environmental systems specialist. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.

Six people critical to the mission of this command. Six people who were important to their families. Six needless deaths.

In FY03, it has not gotten any better. As of February 1, 2003, the Air Force has had five motorcycle deaths and of those, ACC has had three. In ACC that is a 50 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities over last year.

At Moody AFB, Ga., a 24-year-old supply managment specialist, bought his first motorcycle and went riding with his friends. He speeded through a curve, crossed the centerline, and his head and chest struck a tree. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.

At Nellis AFB, Nev., a 26-year-old communications crypto systems specialist, speeding in a neighborhood without a helmet lost control of his motorcycle, struck a curb, and landed on his head in a driveway. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.

At Davis-Monthan, AFB, Ariz., a 19-year-old aerospace propulsion specialist, while speeding lost control of his motorcycle and hit a telephone poll. DEAD Airman -- Operator Error.